Two college football powerhouses collide Friday night as No. 8 Ohio State faces No. 5 Texas in the Cotton Bowlin Arlington, Texas, with a spot in the College Football Playoff national championship at stake. The Buckeyes, 6-point favorites, dominated No. 1 Oregon in the semifinals, while Texas edged Arizona State in double overtime.
Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith, who leads the team with 1,224 yards and 14 touchdowns, looks to exploit Texas’ secondary. “They’ve got an impressive group out at receiver,” Texas defensive back Michael Taaffe admitted, pointing to Smith and Emeka Egbuka’s combined 24 touchdown receptions.
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, a former Buckeye, faces his old team for the first time. “I don’t regret my time there, but coming back to Texas felt right,” he said. Meanwhile, Buckeyes QB Will Howard aims to settle an old score: “Texas was the only Big 12 team I couldn’t beat at K-State.”
Ohio State Buckeyes vs Texas Longhorns live updates, Friday January 10, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.
Two of college football’s most storied programs square off Friday night as No. 8 Ohio State takes on No. 5 Texas in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas. The stakes couldn’t be higher, with the winner advancing to face Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship on Jan. 20 in Atlanta.
Ohio State (12-2) enters as a 6-point favorite, but public betting leans toward Texas (13-2). Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith, a standout receiver with 1,224 yards and 14 touchdowns this season, has been pivotal in the Buckeyes’ playoff success. Smith tallied 13 catches for 290 yards and four touchdowns in two CFP games, including a dominant semifinal win over Oregon.
For Texas, quarterback Quinn Ewers will take on his former team. Reflecting on his brief stint at Ohio State, Ewers said, “I don’t regret any decision I’ve made… but coming back to Texas felt right for me.” Meanwhile, Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian emphasized the need to revive their struggling run game, which managed just 1.8 yards per carry against Arizona State in the quarterfinals.
Ohio State’s high-powered offense, led by Smith and Emeka Egbuka (24 combined touchdowns), thrives on quick starts. Texas defensive back Michael Taaffe acknowledged the challenge, saying, “They’ve got four or five guys that are really dangerous.“
The Buckeyes are peaking, coming off dominant wins over Tennessee and Oregon. Conversely, Texas faces questions about its ability to sustain drives and balance its offense. As coach Ryan Day put it, “Our motivation is simple–stay alive in the championship race.”
Kickoff for the game at AT&T Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET.
Follow all the special Cotton Bowl action right here on the MARCA English LIVE play-by-play.
